By Anna Bowness-Park
Today the Times Colonist launched a new weekly Community Page in their print edition, and online, to encourage discussion and sharing of religion and spirituality in the community. I wrote this one to launch the page.
For many people, talking about spiritual or religious issues is not for public conversation. There are those who have no spiritual beliefs or may be opposed to religion. Others have experienced it as a source of conflict, and don’t want to be “told” what to think or how to live. And some feel it’s just too personal to discuss, or they hold back for fear of offending others.
All such perspectives are valid. Yet is this really practical in our multicultural and multi-faith society? How do we learn to understand our neighbours if we don’t talk about something that affects so many parts of our society – from family life and the workplace, to community services for the needy and vulnerable, charitable giving to countries stricken with war and disasters, and even to our festivals, holidays, foods and health?
Five years ago, I attended a provincial government health forum that included conversations about the role of spirituality in health care. This event left me wondering: Is there a way to talk about spirituality in all areas of life, in constructive ways – that help us see the world from others’ perspectives and dispel misunderstandings, rather than adding to them?
To read more of this article you can go to the Times Colonist site: ……http://www.timescolonist.com/Respect+vital+discussions+religion/5996339/story.html#ixzz1jSYfiGLk